The contrasting emotions on Saturday spoke volumes about the differing directions Chester FC and Wrexham fans believe they are heading this season.
A chorus of boos rang out around the Racecourse at the final whistle from the home terraces following the dour 0-0 draw with some Dragons fans waiting behind to bait manager Gary Mills during his interview with the BT Sport cameras with shouts of 'Mills out, ' rubbish' and 'you don't know what you're doing'.
On the other hand Blues boss Jon McCarthy and his players walked over to the travelling faithful to applaud their support having extended their unbeaten run to four games.
Football is a funny old game.
Mills chose to rip up his squad and start from scratch during the summer, swapping players who came within a whisker of the play-offs with players who had been scrapping relegation. It was a desperate move.
Meanwhile, across the border, McCarthy had, despite some calls not to, retained all he possibly could from the previous season's under-performing squad. He believed in them and having had the benefit of seeing them at close quarters for a full season, knew what they were capable of.
It was a tough start, admittedly, and the hope and expectation that had been whipped up following McCarthy's fine trial run at the end of the season that led to him getting the job took just 90 minutes to disappear into thin air for some.
But wins over fancied sides such as Dagenham & Redbridge and Sutton United brought some cheer but there were poor performances that followed and it appeared that patience was wearing thin.
But whereas Wrexham still toil with the idea that they should be mixing it in the Football League (lads, it's been eight years, deal with it) there is the realisation at the Blues that it isn't where we are at as a club. Not yet anyway.
We marmalised teams en route to non-league football's top tier in 2013 but we have endured, not unexpectedly, a tougher assignment than we were set when we dropped into the Football Conference back in 2000.
McCarthy is a smart man. He had a hugely distinguished career as a player and is a real student of the game. Football has evolved and McCarthy has moved with it and he assistant Ian Sharps pour over the minutiae of tactics and training methods, watching countless match DVDs in the bowels of the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium. There aren't too many more thorough in what they do.
While sitting 15th in the league and a point behind our bitter rivals who are going through such turmoil may not seem like heading in the right direction, and despite crowds yet to break the 2,000 mark at home, there is progress happening.
It's easy to say 'don't hide behind budgets' but they are relevant, sadly. But it is all about what you do with what you have. Macclesfield Town have proved that already.
Mills went about his business like he was playing Football Manager during the summer while McCarthy carefully considered his targets. But if choosing between a Wrexham squad assembled on a pretty hefty budget and one done on a comparative shoestring, I know which most would prefer.
Look, this isn't a Chester squad that has lit up the National League so far this season and there have been plenty of worrisome moments along the way but I do feel that the kind of approach that McCarthy is taking is the one that best suits the needs of the football club and offers the best chance to get back to where we all want it to belong.
He has taken responsibility for his mistakes in tactics and selection more than once this season which resulted in some raised eyebrows. But what has been the result with regards to the playing staff is a bunch of happy campers who believe that their manager has their back. That is something that can't be taken for granted in the modern game and, in turn, the players have his and Sharps' back.
Let's not get carried away with a four-game unbeaten run, as nice as it is. Success this season is to be comfortably mid-table and put down some real roots and an opportunity for further green shoots next season. The National League is an increasingly tough gig and the likely addition of big-spending clubs such as AFC Fylde and Salford City flexing their muscle next season gives plenty of cause for concern.
We were told that there was a method and a plan and that it would take time to come to fruition and it appears that there may be some truth in that statement. There are positive signs with this young side.
Yes, the Blues are in the lower reaches but they have shown they can score goals throughout the team, can keep clean sheets and they have a positive goal difference this campaign.
It feels that, for the first time in a while, there are some reasons to be cheerful for the future and that there is a plan and a vision for future growth. Here's hoping it comes to fruition.
Put it this way, I'd much rather be in Chester's situation right now than Wrexham's, no matter how big their floodlights.
